Breast cancer screenings

Early detection is a key factor in successful treatment of breast cancer. At Penn Medicine, our specialized radiology team uses the latest breast cancer screening technology to provide a personalized, comprehensive evaluation. Our goal is to identify cancer in the earliest possible stage.

Breast cancer screening guidelines

It’s important to follow breast cancer screening guidelines. Regular screening helps us detect abnormal growth early, even before you may notice symptoms. To know when and how to get screened for breast cancer, it is important to check with your primary care provider or OB/GYN and to know your breast cancer risk.

The American Cancer Society breast cancer screening guidelines for people at an average risk for breast cancer depend on your age.

• People who are 40 years old: May begin yearly screening with a mammogram.
• People over 40: Get a mammogram every year.
• People 55 and older: Continue with an annual mammogram or switch to a mammogram every other year until your life expectancy is less than 10 years.

High-risk screenings with the MAPS Clinic

A family history of cancer might mean you are at risk for developing certain hereditary cancers, including breast cancer. If you think or know you have a high breast cancer risk, discuss your family history and individual screening plan with your primary care provider or OB/GYN. Often, women at higher risk get a breast MRI as well as a mammogram every year, beginning around age 30.

The MAPS Clinic for Breast Health (Management, Assessment, Prevention, and Surveillance) is a monitoring program created for people who have been identified as having an elevated risk of developing breast cancer. Through this program, our team of providers are able to offer an evidence-based approach to begin breast disease management, breast cancer risk assessment, cancer prevention, and holistic surveillance for patients who fit the following criteria:

• Have non-genetic risk factors like abnormal cells on a breast needle biopsy or dense breasts
• Have a greater than 20 percent lifetime risk not based on family history
• Do not have breast cancer
• Do not have a known genetic mutation that causes breast cancer such as BRCA1, BRCA2, CHECK2, or PALB

Download and fill out this Family Cancer History worksheet (PDF, 103 KB) to help determine if you’re at high risk for breast cancer and are a candidate for genetic testing. You can print it out and take it to your doctor to help discuss this topic.

Benefits of regular breast cancer screenings

Breast cancer screenings help detect breast cancer early so patients receive the most proactive intervention as quickly as possible. Because early-stage breast cancer is easier to treat than late-stage breast cancer, the chance of survival is higher the earlier it is detected.

Benefits of regular breast cancer screenings include:

• Early cancer detection
• Improved prognosis and chance of survival
• Less invasive treatment options, often without the need for mastectomy (breast removal)
• Comfort and reassurance of a normal result, specifically for those with strong familial risk

Being called back after your breast cancer screening likely means that there was a slightly abnormal finding but does not necessarily indicate a cancer discovery. Other findings include cysts, calcifications, or breast tissue that needs to be reimaged due to density.

If an irregular area of the breast is discovered that may indicate potential cancerous cells, a second round of imaging will be scheduled to diagnose the mass (diagnostic mammogram), along with a possible ultrasound or MRI. If cancer is detected, a breast biopsy will be needed to confirm, with diagnosis and staging information shared in subsequent appointments. It is important to speak with your doctor about what abnormal findings were detected and your options.

Partnering with you from screening to survivorship

As a leader in advanced breast imaging, Penn Medicine is at the forefront of breast cancer screenings and prevention, offering a comprehensive program that provides the education and proactive care necessary to help you manage your breast health. Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge to reduce your risk, and our diagnostic experts remain committed to supporting you through every screening and wellness milestone.

As early adopters of breast MRI and 3D mammography, our imaging experts lead the research used to create national imaging guidelines for early detection. You can access breast cancer care expertise at Penn Medicine locations throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where our specialists collaborate seamlessly to provide high-quality, proactive care close to home.